Udupi: The hospital in Ajjarkad has been upgraded as a district hospital on file only. In reality, as far as district hospital growth is concerned, it has not been upgraded, alleged Psychiatrist Dr P V Bhandary.

He was addressing the media at the Udupi Press Club here on Friday, September 20. Dr Bhandary said that now that there is a BJP government in the Centre and the state, the district MP, as well as the elected representatives, should seriously think about upgrading the hospital.

He said that, when Udupi district established on May 25, 1997, the government hospital in Ajjarkad was made a district hospital. At that time, the hospital had 124 beds. However, since then, the number of staff has not been increased nor has the hospital been upgraded with fundamental facilities.

Every day, more than 600 patients and over 150 in-patients are treated even though there is a shortage of at least 17 doctors, more than 25 nurses and more than 30 group D employees. Hence, people’s representatives should display their political will and upgrade the hospital, he said.

The problems of the hospital get more complicated with the passage of each day. As the Centre and the state government are led by the same party, the district representatives must pressurise the government and solve the problems, he said.

Speaking at the press meet, Ramesh Kallotte, honorary president of the Karavali Youth Club said that they had brought the hospital’s issues to the notice of the district’s MLAs, commissioner and others. “The health minister will visit the district by the end of this month. We will bring this issue to the minister’s attention and try to resolve them,” he said.

Karavali Youth Club officials Ashok, Sandesh, Ramanji, Manjunath, Shailesh, Sanath and others were present.